me from third on a double steal as Jones swip

Fans who came to the Meadowlands on Saturday night expected to see a Ben Franklin rematch in the $471,800 William Haughton Memorial, but instead they witnessed the crowning of Always B Miki as the clear-cut best older pacer in North America.Freaky Feet Pete left the gate as has been the norm and quickly gave up command to Wiggle It Jiggleit at the opening quarter in 25 3/5. Those two came off the turn in line as Always B Miki began his move on the backstretch of the 1-1/8 mile race.Driver David Miller asked Always B Miki for speed and gunned to the front passing the half in 54 seconds. The duo continued the solid tempo as Shamballa initiated the outer flow while towing All Bets Off into the race.Shamballa gave his all on the rim, gaining steadily by three-quarters and coming up to the winner just before the mile marker in 1:48 1/5, but Always B Miki was too strong. Wiggle It Jiggleit attempted to split foes in the stretch but lacked his usual zest in the stretch while finishing third behind the top pair. Freaky Feet Pete was fourth.The final clocking of 2:01 1/5 set a world record, the third straight world record mile for Always B Miki.Once I got to the front as easily as I did, I thought he was in pretty good shape; I thought it would be more of a battle, said Hall of Famer Miller, who put Always B Miki in perspective with some of his past drives. Hes one of the best horses Ive ever driven. Ive driven some really good horses, but I have an emotional attachment that goes along with him. Hes definitely one of my favorites.Trainer Jimmy Takter was non-committal about the 5-year-olds next start, but it is widely expected to be the U.S. Pacing Championship on Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands (August 6).It is such a long year, and Im dealing with flesh and blood. Every start for me, I have to absorb what he has done, and I have to see how he came out of the race, work on him a little bit. Hes not a horse that can race week after week, said Takter, who mentioned winning the Breeders Crown and TVG final as goals for later in the season.Always B Miki added $219,387 to his career earnings with the win and has now eclipsed $1.78 million for owners Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable and Christina Takter.The winner paid $2.80 as the favorite.Ultra Boost España . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Ultra Boost Baratas España . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. http://www.ultraboostbaratas.com/ . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. Ultra Boost Baratas . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Ultra Boost Rebajas . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends.CHICAGO -- Whether he earns an invitation or not, Francisco Liriano at least is pitching like an All-Star. The arm problems and struggles that weighed him down in recent seasons appear to be behind him. Now, all hes doing is breezing through opposing lineups. Liriano pitched a four-hitter for his first complete game in more than two years, and the Pittsburgh Pirates won for the 11th time in 13 games, beating the Chicago Cubs 6-2 on Friday. "This is an exclamation point to what hes been doing, to finish that game off today. In command throughout," manager Clint Hurdle said. An All-Star as a rookie in 2006, Liriano went the distance for the first time since he tossed a no-hitter for Minnesota against the White Sox on May 3, 2011. He struck out seven and walked four to improve 5-1 in his last six starts while tossing the first complete game by a Pittsburgh pitcher this season. He also had an RBI single. The rosters for this years All-Star game at Citi Field in New York will be announced on Saturday. The Pirates, meanwhile, continue to roll along. They came in with the best record in the majors and a two-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central, and they matched a season high by going 21 games over .500 on a day when the Cubs Jeff Samardzija (5-8) couldnt keep the ball down in the zone. Starling Marte had three hits to extend his streak to 10 games, scored two runs and stole two bases to back another strong start by Liriano (8-3). The left-hander gave up a two-run homer to Scott Hairston but not much else while improving to 3-0 against the Cubs this season. "Im having pretty good success here in Chicago," Liriano said. Hes having success, period. After back-to-back seasons with ERAs above 5.00, hes at 2.20 after this gem. Hes consistently plowing through opponents in a way he hasnt since he was starting out with the Twins and before he had Tommy John elbow surgery. That caused him to miss the 2007 season, and hes had his ups and downs since then. He was certainly in command on Friday, one home run aside. "I made one mistake, fastball right down the middle, so it was a home run," Liriano said. "After that everything was down in the zone." That drive by Hairston came after Liriano knocked in the games first run in the top half with a single over shortstop Starlin Castros glove. The hit was just his fourth in 35 at-bats. It also gave him his first RBI since he was with Minnesota in 2011 and three in his career. Garrett Jones, whos from suburban Tinley Park, Ill., had two hits.dddddddddddd He drove in a run and scored one before Gaby Sanchez replaced him at first in the seventh inning. Neil Walker delivered an RBI triple and scored during a three-run third that gave the Pirates a 4-2 lead and sent them to their seventh straight road win. For Samardzija, it was simply a rough day. The 6-foot-5 right-hander gave up five runs in six innings, allowing nine hits for the second time in three starts while walking five. It was the most for him since he issued six against St. Louis last July 28. "Everything was up in the zone," said Samardzija, who also hit a batter. "Good pitches for them to hit. You mix that with being behind in the count, youre going to put yourself in a battle." Samardzija couldnt protect the lead after Hairston went deep off Liriano in the second, immediately giving up three in the third. Centre fielder Dave Sappelt didnt help matters when he took a bad angle trying to cut off a drive by Walker after Marte led off with a bunt single, resulting in an RBI triple. Jones drove in a run with a single and Andrew McCutcheon raced home from third on a double steal as Jones swiped second on a high throw while Russell Martin struck out, making it 4-2. Chicago catcher Dioner Navarro got banged up in the eighth trying to pick Marte off third. He said his hand hit plate umpire Vic Carapazzas mask and his elbow hit McCutchens bat, leaving him numb momentarily, but he stayed in the game. Castro committed a mistake on the bases in the bottom half with the Cubs down four. He doubled with two out and got caught off second by the catcher, Martin, with Navarro batting. "Its not a smart play," Castro said. "I feel really, really bad. That cant happen. Down by four, eighth inning, that run is not important. I was trying to be aggressive, but that cant happen." NOTES: A.J. Burnett will start Sunday for the Pirates after being sidelined the past month by a strained right calf, Hurdle said. The veteran right-hander is 4-6 with a 3.12 ERA in 14 starts. ... Cubs manager Dale Sveum said OF David DeJesus, on the 15-day DL with a sprained right shoulder, has started swinging off a tee and can raise his arm over his head. He said theres no timetable for a return. Sveum also said OF Brian Bogusevic is day to day after leaving Thursdays game at Oakland because of tightness in his left hamstring. ... RHP Charlie Morton (1-1, 2.50 ERA) makes his fifth start for the Pirates on Saturday, with RHP Edwin Jackson (4-10, 5.75) pitching for the Cubs. ' ' '